Mills County, Iowa

Silver City Community History
1879 - 1979

SILVER CITY FIRES

OCTOBER 19, 1882

Between one and two o’clock on the morning of the 19th, a fire broke out in the heart of the business part of Silver City, and in a remarkably brief time seven of her best business buildings, with almost all their contents, were licked up by the “devouring element.” The news of the disaster having reached Malvern a few hours later, a Republican Leader scribe repaired to the scene of the conflagration at once, and gained the following full particulars.

The fire was discovered by Dr. Moore and Mr. Ed Morse, who occupied a sleeping room off from the office, which adjoined the post-office building on the south. These gentlemen retired at a late hour, and had not fallen asleep when they heard a roaring noise which caused them to get up and look around the premises. Upon looking in the front of the post-office, they discovered the fire in the partition wall between that building and Dickman Brothers saloon on the north.

They immediately gave the alarm, broke in the door and set to work to subdue the flames. A few minutes hard work sufficed to show that the fire was beyond human control. Nevertheless, the citizens labored heroically and persistently to save what they could. The post-office was in about the center of the burnt district, the fire having spread rapidly in each direction.

To the north it burned two buildings owned by Dickman Brothers, the first one occupied by them as a saloon, with a family living over­head; the second one occupied by Guthrie & Mandeville with an extensive stock of general merchandise.

To the south of the post-office, the flames licked up in rapid succession, Dr. Moore’s office, H. Kay’s boot and shoe store, Ed Oney’s restaurant, George Pullman’s meat market and a barber shop. When it became apparent that nothing could be saved south of the post-office, the energies of the people were turned to saving L.W. Russell & Co.’s building on the north. Hintz’s saloon stood between Russell’s store and the burning buildings on the south, and a vacant lot lay just south of the saloon. Hence, by keeping this saloon dripping wet, it and Russell & Co.’s Building and stock were saved. Under the cool headed management of John Hettinger, however, Russell & Co.’s entire stock of goods was removed from the building.

• Following are the losses, with amounts of loss and insurance:
• Guthrie & Mandeville — Merchandise, $13,000 Insurance, $4,000
• Crosby & Anter — Buildings and Stock, $4,000 Insurance, $2,250
• Dickman Bros. — Saloon and two buildings, $2,500 Insurance, $1,600
• H. Kay Boots and shoes, stock and buildings, $1,900 Insurance, $850
• Ed Oney — Restaurant, building and stock, $2,200 Insurance, $1,200
• Pullman Meat Market — $350, no insurance
• Dr. Moore — Stable and Office Contents, $300 No Insurance
• Barber Shop —$100, no insurance

• Total loss=$24,350 ~ Insurance=$10,200

The ladies worked nobly. Dr. Moore lost $30 in gold. Our worthy young friend, McCall, lost his entire law library, seal, etc. The post-office will be in the Jno. Hanson & Co. store for the present. An absence of wind was all that saved the destruction of every building north of the railroad track.

The loss falls heaviest on Guthrie and Mandeville, who had only been in the City a short time. They carried a very heavy stock of goods and were working up a fine trade. Postmaster Crosby saved the books of the office and $170.00 worth of stamps, which were in a safe. He lost all his blanks, 1900 postal cards and about $10 worth of loose stamps.

Charles Rommel, a young man with a wooden leg who was sleeping over the post-office, came near losing his life. He did not awaken until nearly suffocated, and was rescued with great difficulty. His clothes and faith­ful “peg leg” were destroyed.

Reference:
Malvern Republican Leader October 20, 1882
Reprinted by Silver City Times, June 2, 1919

NOVEMBER 12, 1891

Silver City has again been visited by a disastrous fire. A few minutes after one o’clock this morning fire was discovered in Pullman and Hettinger’s hardware department, which fanned by a fierce north wind, soon enveloped both buildings in flames. It soon became evident that nothing on the east side of the street could be saved, and the efforts of the hose company and citizens were turned toward saving the buildings west of the street and to saving the goods and household furniture in the doomed building. The flames swept on and in a short time the entire business block was consumed and was only checked after destroying the Tremont house.

Toward the last the efforts of the fire company were centered upon the lumber office and sheds belonging to C.G. Greenwood & Co. and the livery barn just across the alley from the Tremont house, and it was only after a desperate struggle that they were saved. Had they caught fire the entire residence portion of the City on the east side would most certainly have been destroyed.

The scene this morning is a most gloomy one. What was yesterday a block of business houses, all doing a lively business is today a mass of smoldering ruins. But had it not been for the heroic work done by the hose company, and by all citizens, with a few exceptions the damage would have been much greater. The losses so far as we have been able to learn at this early hour, are in the neighborhood of $45,000 divided as follows:

• Pullman & Hettinger on stock $20,000 insurance $13,000
• George Pullman on building $6,000 insurance $4,000
• C. Plumer on building $1,000, no insurance
• Robert Caldwell, furniture, clothing etc. about $300, also $240 in currency
• E.C. Helper on building and household goods, $1400, insurance on building $600
• H.C. Mass on building and stock $2,000 insurance $450
• F. Kunkle on building and stock $1,000 insurance $400 Henry Dressler on household goods, amount unknown
• Silver City Bank on building and furniture $300 insurance $100
• W.A. Ellis on building and goods about $3,000, fully insured on stock only and partially on building
• J.C. Christy loss $1,800, insurance $500 each on building and stock
• L.Hettinger on building and household goods $1200 to $1500, insurance $800

Dr. J.N. Agan lost all his instruments, library, etc. Drs. Moore and McCue saved a large share of their office furniture and instruments, loss about $500 Of course these amounts may not be correct but are as nearly so as can be learned at present.

The buildings occupied by Pullman & Hettinger will in all probability be rebuilt. The others who will rebuild as far as known at present are H.C. Mass, Silver City State Bank, J.C. Christy, and probably W.A. Ellis.

The fire is supposed to have been of incendiary origin as the fire appeared to those first on the ground to have been started on the outside of the building, and the belief is strengthened from the fact that several tramps were noticed in town after dark last night. And also that someone broke into the depot during the night, tore open the money drawer and secured 15 to 20 cents in pennies. Agent Owens is not one to leave his money in such an insecure place. One thing is certain, if any of those tramps had been found this morning, it would have been to his interest to have given a pretty straight account of himself.

The Silver City News
Mills County, Iowa
Thursday, November 12, 1891

Among the improvements in the business portion of Silver City which are now assured is a two-story double brick store building which George Pullman will build in the place of his buildings which were burned. John Van Kirk has purchased the W. A. Ellis lot south of the bank and will put up a two-story brick store building, and L. Hettinger has sold his two lots to Fred Danielson of Mineola, who expects to erect a two-story brick hotel. Work will begin on them as soon as possible in the spring.
The Silver City News
December 17, 1891

November 12, 1891, or six months ago today. Silver City was visited by a fire which swept away eleven buildings, their contents, causing a loss of about $45, 000, the only thing left standing on the west half of block fifteen was the fireproof vault of the Silver City Bank. But little time was lost in rebuilding and today seven substantial brick buildings stand on the sites of the old frame buildings. The first to begin rebuilding was the Silver City Bank, 28’ x 60’, two stories, followed by E. C. Hepler and H. C. Mass, one story store rooms. Next came the Pullman-Plumer double store building, 50’ x 80’, two story with basement, which by the way, is one of the finest in the county. Then followed the VanKirk and Christy buildings, the former two and the latter one story. The last of the number is the Danielson hotel two-story building, which if our memory serves us right, is 33’ x 67’ and is not yet completed.

Other buildings are being talked of and will probably be put up, but it is reasonably safe to say that no more frame business buildings will go up in Silver City. Real estate, too, has taken a boom and in some instances is selling at from 75 to 100 per cent more than was asked a year ago.
The Silver City News
May 12, 1892

SILVER CITY AGAIN VISITED BY FIRE

About 10 o’clock Friday night parties going home from the hall discovered fire at the rear end of the building occupied by the drug firm of Wm. Skillcorn & Co. The alarm of fire was given and in a very short time a large crowd was on the grounds and began the struggle with the fiery elements. A stream of water was soon pouring upon the flames which were almost extinguished in a few minutes and when those present began to think the fight almost over the hose burst in several places and became almost useless. The flames rapidly gained headway and it soon became apparent that the row of buildings must go, and the work of removing goods began.

The flames soon enveloped the building and then spread to those adjoining. Those on the south consumed were the J.J. Taylor building, occupied by A.A. Seagrave, dry foods; the Swanson building, now owned by Council Bluffs parties, and occupied by B.S. Weidner, harness and W.G. Moore, drugs, the next and last was owned by Mrs. Maddocks, the lower floor of which was occupied by Mrs. Taylor, while the rooms above were used as a residence by 0. Shelton and wife.

North of where the fire started was the H.C. Mass building. George Garner occupied the lower room as a pool room and the rooms above were used by J.T. Finchem and Mr. and Mrs. Charles Johnson for dwelling purposes. Next came the Silver Star hotel property and here the flames were checked by keeping the building thoroughly saturated, and almost entirely covered with wet blankets and by tearing out a portion of the north wall of the Mass building the fire was prevented from spreading further.

A large portion of the contents of the buildings were saved with the exception of Skillcorn & Co’s. stock, which was almost if not quite a total loss. We have been unable at this early hour to obtain a list of the insurance but find that a majority of the buildings and goods were reasonably well protected.

The bucket brigade did noble service and deserve much credit for their work, the citizens generally doing their utmost, but as is usual in such cases there were several parties who were too busy to do anything but stand around in the way of those who were willing to work. It is a wonder that such persons are allowed to breathe and the expressions of contempt concerning several parties this morning does not speak well for their standing in this community. The News regrets to acknowledge that such people are here but it is a fact never the less. The heat was so intense that several large window lights in the buildings across the street were broken.

It is not known if any of the parties will rebuild, but they will decide in a few days. Several parties during the fire were over come by the heat and excitement and required the services of a physician to bring them around again.

The rain which had fallen during the early part of the evening dampened the buildings so that the fire burned slowly allowing more time for the removal of goods. From the appearance of the fire when first seen, the general opinion is that the fire was of incendiary origin as the fire had all the appearance having started on the outside and it would not be healthy for the perpetrator to be found here today.
Reference: Silver City News-Special Edition — January 20, 1894, property of W.S. Hammons. Reprinted in Silver City Times 8-4-1932

EARLY MORNING BLAZE CLEANS OUT BUILDINGS

Fire broke out about four o’clock Saturday morning in the pool hall on the west side of main street and in an hour’s time three business buildings were in ashes.

The small frame building occupied by Cassius E. Soliday as a pool hall was about the center of the block next adjoining the barber shop, a brick building. Next adjoining the pool hall was an old frame structure built years ago and used for a time as a hotel, the front part of which A. P. Reeve has been using for his real estate office. The building next to this was put up four or five years ago for a garage. For the past year or so it has been occupied by Frank Anderson as an implement storage warehouse. These three buildings were entirely consumed. The last named structure was frame with still metal veneer, as was the poo1 hall, the other was frame.

J. H. Peterson, who rooms over the drug store across the street a half block away, was awakened by the smell of smoke. He investigated, and discovered flames coming from the pool hall building, and made a run for the fire bell. In a short time the town was aroused, and the little chemical engine was in action. Too much headway had been gained however to save the buildings, and all efforts were directed to checking the fire at the blacksmith shop building, which is brick. In the meantime volunteer help carried out the office furniture of A. P. Reeve, and also emptied the building next to it of its contents mostly implements belonging to F. W. Anderson. Nothing was saved in the pool hall where the fire broke out. To be safe most of the blacksmith tools and stock was also carried out, the property of C. H. Burdick.

Had the fire not been checked at this point there would have been cleaning clear on up the street, which would have taken in the F. W. Anderson general store, the Anderson garage south of the store and the J. H. Peterson garage. The early morning was still, which probably saved a complete wipe out of this side of the street.

Malvern and Glenwood both sent their fire fighting chemical engines an alarm having been sent them when it began to look as if the whole street was in danger. They responded promptly, though by the time they arrived our own forces had the fire under control, stopping it at the brick wall of the blacksmith shop. Council Bluffs also started out with on one of their fire wagons, but were intercepted and turned back after they had run five miles out.

No insurance was carried on any of the property destroyed. The rate of this class of buildings was high, so the owners carried the risk themselves. The loss falls on C. E. Soliday, pool hall building and contents, J.C. Jackson and Richard Bada, owners of the old frame building, and Mrs. Alta Pullman, owner of the garage building — loss respectively about $800, $800, and $1200.

How the fire started is not known. Cassius Soliday and family had gone on a trip to Indiana a few days before, and George Soliday, C. E.’s father was attending the business in his absence. The place was closed about ten o’clock, and of course no fire had been in the building at this time of year. The cause of the fire will probably never be explained.
Reference: Silver City Times, July 22, 1920

~submitted by Roseanna Zehner & Darlene Jacoby